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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]
2 clusters · 4 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated
Categories: HEALTH
East Asia hand‑foot‑and‑mouth disease surge
Overview
In late June and early July 2026, health authorities in South Korea and Japan reported sharp increases in hand‑foot‑and‑mouth disease (HFMD) among young children.
South Korea’s disease control agency said the proportion of suspected HFMD patients more than doubled over four weeks, rising from 8.9 to 19.4 per 1,000 outpatient visits, with the highest rate (27.2 per 1,000) in children aged 0‑6. The agency urged thorough hand‑washing and advised keeping symptomatic children out of day‑care centers, kindergartens, kid‑cafés and swimming facilities.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported the highest national average in two years—7.03 patients per medical facility—and noted that 27 prefectures exceeded the alert benchmark. Shimane Prefecture recorded 18 patients per facility, far above the alert threshold of 5, while neighboring Tottori reported 7.3 per facility. Officials called for continued hand‑washing and other preventive measures.
Both countries emphasized hygiene and limiting group exposure to curb the spread of the disease.
Timeline
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about 3 hours ago
[HEALTH] 2 sourcesJapan's Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Cases Surge to National Alert LevelHFMD cases in Japan have risen sharply, with Shimane at 18 patients per clinic and a national average of 7.03, pushing 27 prefectures above the alert threshold; officials urge preventive measures.
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4 days ago
[HEALTH] 2 sourcesSouth Korea sees hand‑foot‑and‑mouth disease cases double in a monthSouth Korea’s HFMD cases more than doubled in a month, especially among children 0‑6, prompting hygiene warnings and advice to avoid group childcare settings.
Sources
fnn.jp · hani.co.kr · m.hani.co.kr · news.cube-soft.jp